The Fact That a Group of Individuals Would All Benefit

question 101

Multiple Choice

The fact that a group of individuals would all benefit from draining a swamp but that any individual can shirk his or her part of the duties illustrates the concept of

• A)free riding.
• B)negative externalities.
• C)positive externalities.
• D)collective optimization.
• E)groupthink failures.

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Definitions:

Milgram's Experiment

A psychological study conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s to measure individuals' willingness to obey authority figures, even when asked to perform acts conflicting with personal conscience.

Conformity

The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms or societal standards.

Obedience

The act of following orders or instructions, especially from an authority figure, without question.

Social Loafing

The phenomenon in which each individual contributes a little less as more individuals are added to a task; a source of inefficiency when working in teams.